IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

ATTACKS ON DOUAUMONT. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. Paris, April 3. A communique states that several German attacks against the Avocourt redoubt were repulsed. There was a very lively struggle all day long in the Douaumont-Vaux sector. There were four simultaneous attacks by forces exceeding a division. The enemy penetrated the Caillette wood, south-east of Douaumont fort. We immediately drove them back into the corner of the wood. We evacuated the last ruined houses in Vaux village. Our line now skirts the edge of the village. We brought down four enemy aeroplanes in the Verdun region, FIERCE FIGHTING AT VAUX. THE FRENCH HOLD THEIR GROUND. | OFFICIAL REPORTS. Received April 4, 8.20 p.m. Amsterdam, April 3. A German communique, issued or Sunday, claims: We captured the enemy defences and flanking entrenchments northwest and weßt of Vaux, and French counter-attacks collapsed before our artillery and machine-gun fire. Received April 4, 8.20 p.m. Paris, April 3. Le Petit Journal says that in Sunday's fighting at Vaux the Germans commenced a heavy bombardment from dawn. The 305-millimetre shells ploughed up our trenches for several hours, and then the enemy launched a division of their best troops. The fl|pt column, which attacked our north front, was held up by our curtain of fire; the second debouched from the wood south of Vaux; and the third followed the road on our left. A CRITICAL MOMENT. I The situation was becoming critical when our reinforcements delivered a counter-attack, and after a terrible struggle the Germans were compelled to retreat before our charges. They thus failed in their object, which was to cut off our communication with fort Vaux. POSITION AT DOUAUMONT. I , The bombardment of the villages of Haucourt and Desnes continues. There were no infantry actions at night. Fighting in the region of Douaumont and Vaux is favorable to us. We gained some ground at Bois Caillette. Our line rests on the traverses of Boia Caillette, of which the enemy occupies the northern corner. In the regions of our position south and west of Douaumont the Germans yesterday deployed on a front of three kilometres, successive waves of infantry being followed by small assaulting columns. Our.artillery and infantry fire inflicted heavy losses. Oi.r artillery caused several fires at Remabots, in Lorraine. A German aeroplane fell into our lines near Noyon, and the occupants were taken prisoner.

THE FRENCH RECOIL. FORCE THE ENEMY BACK. Received April 4, 11.10 p.m. Paris, April 4. A communique reports: Our artillery blew up an enemy blockhouse and ammunition depot at Avocourt wood. There was a violent German attack between Haucourt and Bethincourt, against our old positions north of Forges brook, the enemy not knowing that we had evacuated them on the night of March 31. Our surprise fire from the new positions inflicted important losses. We further forced back the enemy in Caillette wood. Our final counter-attack was especially violent, and we regained the western portion of Vaux village.

COMMANDER'S REPORT. SUCCESS, AT ST. ELOI. ' Received April 4, 10.40 p.m. London, April 4. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: We captured tlie crater at St. Eloi which the Germans had held since Thursday, and we are establishing our lines beyond the crater. The artillery on both Bides is active. THE FRONT AT VERDUN. BRITISH ASSISTANCE. ; Times and Sydney Sun Servcics. Received April 4, 5.25 p.m. London, April 3. M. Marcel Hutin writes to the Echo de Paris: The British have rendered a great service in liberating some of our divisions, enabling us to strengthen our front at Verdun and elsewhere.